Apparatus for transforming alternating into continuous currents.



Patented Sapt. 3, 190i.

N. HUTIN & M. LEBLANC. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORIING ALTERNATING INTOCONTINUOUS OUBRENTS.

(Applicqtion filed Jun. 6, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Nodal.)

LU/i? 65565 I77 0 677/0 78 fiance M777 IeZZa No. 68I,965. Patented Sept.3, mm.

m. HUTIN & m. LEBLANC. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORNING ALTERNATING INTOCONTINUOUS CURRENTS.

(Application filed Jlh. 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

U/z w 66665 fivezfi ora' flaunt; HZ07777, mam/C l3 6 a who 3 r 3/ No.68!,965. Patented Sept. 3, l90l.

. N. HUTIN & m. LEBLANC.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORNINE ALTEBNATING INTO CONTINUOUS CURHE NTS.

(Application filed Jan. 5, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O O O O Q 0 O O O 00 H O H l O 0 Q O n O H o A at O w O Q I Q N O I O oo /O O o O O O O O O o o o 9 O w i 6765565' fizveflfori' War]? a ya?Patented sum. 3, 19m.

I. HUT-N 8|. M. LEBLANC. v APPARATUS FOR TRANSFOBIING ALTERNATING INTOCONTINUOUS CURRENTS.

(Application filed In. 5, 1900.)

5 Shoots-Shoot 4.

(No Model.

labor/0e l 65Z027 gm M u h 07W? 07 5 No. 68!,965. Patented Sept. 3,l90l. N. HUTIN & M. LEBLANG.

APPARATUS FOR TBANSFORIING ALTEBNATING INTO CONTINUOUS CUBBENTS.

(Applied-ion filed In. 6, 1900.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE III ITIN AND MAURICE LEBLANC, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS TOSOCIETE ANONYME POUR LA TRANSMISSION DE LA FORCE PAR LELECTRICITE, orSAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFORMING ALTERNATING lNTO CONTINUOUS CURRENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,965, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed January 5, 1900. Serial No. 457. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MAURICE HUTIN and MAURICE LEBLANO, citizens of theRepublic of France, and residents of Paris, in the Re public of France,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forTransforming Single Phase or Polyphase Currents into ContinuousCurrents, of which the following is a specification.

[O The object of our invention is to devise an apparatus fortransforming alternating currents, whether monophase or polyphase, intocontinuous currents and, conversely, for transforming continuouscurrents into alternating cnrrents,whether monophase or polyphase.Since, however, the apparatus is completely reversible, it will only benecessary to describe it in one of its two forms, and for this purposewe shall select that form in which alternating currents are transformedinto continuous currents, it being understood that our claims are broadenough to cover either alternative. In effecting such transformation wemay transform the alternating ourrents into continuous currents of thesame tension, or we may by properly winding the parts change the tensionof the continuous currents with reference to that of the alternatingcurrents. Thus, for instance, we can 0 begin with alternating currentsof high tension and transform them into continuous currents of lowtension.

The means which we have devised to carry out our invention may in ageneral way be 5 described as follows: \Ve create by means of thealternating current, whether monophase or polyphase, a rotary field offorce. Such field rotates in space with a velocity of synchronism-thatis, the velocity determined by the frequency of the current. Let usassume that the rotation is clockwise-that is, like the hands of aclock. Let us also assume that the frequency is pthat is, let us assumethat 1) cycles of the alternating current take place in a second oftime. The angular velocity of the rotary magnetic field due to thisalternating current, assumingthe inductor to be bipolar, will then be 27r 1). If there are Zn poles, then this number, to represent the angularmagnetic speed of synchronism,will have to be divided by n. In any casethe angular speed of the magnetic field due to the alternating current,which we may call the angular magnetic velocity of synchronism, maybedenotedby a. Thereisan armature carrying two groups of conductors.Assuming a plane of symmetry fixed within and rotating with thearmature, the members of What we maycallthefirstgroup of thearmature-conductors at one end of the armature, measured along the axisof rotation, are connected each to each to the members of what we maycall the second group of conductors at the other end of the armature, sothat each memberof the first groupis connected to that member of thesecond group which lies at an equal angle with it on the opposite sideof the plane of symmetry. These conductors are connected in the usualfashion to the segments of a commutator mounted on the arma- 7oture-axis. The armature is rotated clockwise with a velocity of Now thearmature is so a with a velocity of 'lhis relative motion of the fieldof force with reference to the 8 plane of symmetry in the armature isalso clockwise. It is also plain that the effect of a field of forcerotating clockwise with reference to the first group of conductors at avelocity of gwill be to create certain electro 9 motive forces in theseconductors, which in turn will create equal electromotive forces in thesecond group of armature-conductors connected therewith; but as therotary field is a, moving clockwlse with a velocity of 5 with respect tothe plane of symmetry in the armature it is clear that the electromotiveforces in the second group of armature-conductors will correspond to afield of force traveling counter-clockwise with reference to theplane ofsymmetry with a velocity equal to g. This follows at once when weconsider that the corresponding conductors of the two armature-groupsare connected on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry to make equalangles therewith. Now since the armature and its plane of symmetry arerotating clockwise with a velocity of g and the field of force in thesecond group of armature-conductors is rotating counter-clockwise withreference to the plane of symmetry with a velocity of it follows thatthe second field of force, though moving with relation to thearmature-conductors, will be fixed in space. This means that there willbe a constant difference of potential between such diametricallyopposite sections of the second group of armature connections as lie atany given instant of timeupon the opposite ends of a diameter passingthrough the axis and fixed in space. We can therefore take a continuouscurrent therefrom by reason of stationary branches resting on acommutator connected to these sections. We can also utilize thisstationary field by acting upon it by another stationary field making agiven angle there with, after the manner of an electrodynamic motor, todrive the armature at the proper speednamely, half the speed ofsynchronism.

It will be evident at once that with our apparatus the commutator isrequired to rectify currents of a frequency of %that is, a frequency ofhalf that of synchronism. In other systems it is necessary to rectifycurrents having a frequency equal to that of synchronism. One greatadvantage of our system,

therefore, is that it permits us to use double the number of coils inthe armature, supposing the tangential velocity of the commutator andthe size of the plates to be the same. This naturally facilitatescommutation and permits of the easy production of continuous current ofhigh tension. Other advantages 'will be referred to later on.

each time that it turns through an angle defined by the distance betweentwo consecutive commutator-plates. There can therefore be no variationof flux in the armature sufficient to injuriously affect thecommutation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an apparatusconstructed in accordance with our invention and carrying out theprocess referred to. Fig. 2 shows an end elevation viewed from the leftof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows an end elevation viewed from the right ofFig. 1. Fig. at shows a diagram of the mode of connecting the two groupsof armatureconductors to each other and to the plates of a commutator.Fig. 5 shows a diagram, and Fig. 6 shows a diagram of the severalcircuits.

The alternating current to be transformed is fed to the windings of theinductor D, which is of the alternating current, a synchronous type. Theend view of Fig. 2 shows how the winding (1 of this inductor may bearranged. It has not, however, been considered necessary to show thedetails of the windings or the manner of feeding current thereto, sinceall this is old and common in the art. It is to be understood, in aword, that substantially any old type of inductorfield may be used inplace of that indicated by the ring D. The inductor E, on the otherhand, is that of a continuous-current machine, and its coils I I aremounted in shunt between the brushes F F, which supply a continuouscurrent. It will also be advantageous in general to add to the coils I Iin shunt of the brushes F F coils mounted in series in the exteriorcircuit, and thus give the field a compound winding in the manner whichis ordinary and well understood.

Rotating within the alternating-inductor D and the continuous-currentinductor E is the armature of the machine, which rotates upon the axis0. This armature is in two rigidly connected parts, one part turningwithin the inductor D, the other part turning within the inductor E. Thepart of the armature turning within the inductor D is composed of ringsA, having slots in their periphery, as shown in Fig. 2. The part of thearmature rotating within the inductor E is composed of rings 13, havingsimilar slots in their periphery, as shown in Fig. 3. There is also acommutator composed of a number of plates 0, which is mounted on andturns with the axis 0. On this commutator rest the stationary brushes FF.

In order to understand how the armaturewindings on the ring A areconnected to the armature-windings on the ring B and how these connectedarmature-windings are connected to the plates of the commutator G, wehave to refer to Fig. 4, which shows what is in eifect a projection ofthese windings and their connections to the commutator-plates on a planeperpendicular to the axis 0. In reading this drawing it must beremembered 'that the armature-windings on the rings A are represented byrectangles .9, covered with simple hachures and that thearmature-windings on the rings B are represented by rectangles r coveredwith crossed hachures. It must also be remembered thatin order to avoidconfusion, which would be caused by showing a rectangle 1' superimposedon a rectangle s, we have supposed these rectangles slightly displacedwith reference to each other. This being stated it will be seen at oncethat each section 3 wound on the ring A is connected in parallel with acorresponding section 7' wound on the ring B and that these connectedsections are connected to the plates of the com mutator O just as thoughwe were winding an ordinary continuous current machine. It will also beseen that instead of connecting a section r-thatis, a coil on the ringBwith a section s-thatis, a coil on the ring A, which is on the sameside of the axis of symmetry X Ywe connect the coil of the ring A, whichis one side of the axis of symmetry, with a coil on the opposite side ofthe axis of symmetry,which makes an equal angle therewith. Thus, forinstance, if we take a section 8 in Fig. 4, which is on the right of theplane of symmetry X Y and which makes an angle of thirty degreestherewith, We see that it is connected with a rectangle 1, which is onthe left of the axis of symmetry X Y and which makes an angle of thirtydegrees therewith. The diagram of Fig. 4 shows us how these connectionsmay be made without having to cross the conductors, which serve toestablish the connections at any point. Such connections may, therefore,be made as readily as those of an ordinary continuous-current machine.Let us now suppose that we throw an alternating current of frequency (6into the circuit of the inductor D, so as to create a field of forcewithin the inductor D, rotating clockwise at a velocity a. Let usfurthermore suppose that the axis on which the armature is mounted isturned clockwise with a ve- Ct locity of Let us for conveniencedesignate the rotary field within the inductor D as Q. The field Q willdevelop electromotive forces of frequency; and present successivedilferences of phase in different sections of the armature-windings ofthe ring A. At each instant there will be a constant difference ofpotential developed between the armaturesections of the ring A, situatedat the ex tremities of a diameter at y, (see Fig. 5,)which turnsclockwise around the axis 0 with a ve locity (0, (since the field turnswith a velocity (6,) and in consequence turns clockwise with a velocity5% with respect to the plane of symmetry X Y, which is fixed within thearmature and turns with it clockwise with a velocity of Now as thesections of the armature-winding on the ring B are connected with thesections of the armature-winding on the ring A, but correspondingwindings are symmetric on the opposite sides of the plane of symmetry,it follows that the sections between which the same constant differenceof potential is developed in the armature-windings of the ring 13 willbe situated, at each instant, upon the extremities of a diameter at y,which is displaced counter-clockwise Ct within the ring B, and at avelocity of 5 with respect to the plane of symmetry X Y. The plane ofsymmetry X Y is fixed within the armature and moves clockwise with itwith a velocity of in space. It follows, therevelocity of Such rotationwe may immediately obtain by reason of the presence of the inductor 1,corresponding, as it does, to the inductor ofa continuous-currentmachine and creating a field of force fixed in space. We have seen, infact, if the armature is rotated with a velocity of that then the fieldof force created by the currents due to the electromotive forces in thearmature-windings of the ring 13 will be fixed in space. If now we actupon this stationary field of force in the armature-windings of the ring13 by another stationary field of force making a given angle therewith,generated, for instance, by the inductor I, it will be apparent that thearmature will be rotated at the velocity desired.

lVe have assumed in the above description that the alternating currentwhich is fed to the inductorD produces a rotary field of force withinsuch inductor. In case the alternating current is polyphase and thewindings of the inductor are arranged for polyphase currents this resultwill be immediately brought about, as is well understood; but if thealternatin g current with which we start and which is fed to theinductor D is monophase something more is needed in order to producewhat is in effect a single rotating field of force. To this end we use aseries of copper bolts Z) b, which traverse the polar extremities of theinductor E in a region very near the air-space. Their extremities areconnected by two conducting-circles G, situated one on each side of theinductor E. If now we impose a monophase alternating current offrequency a onto the circuit of the inductor D, it will be understoodfrom what we have described in our previous patent, No. 545,693, ofSeptember 3,1895, andin our Patent No. 613,203, of October 25, 1898,that the alternating current may be considered as developing twoconstant rotary fields Q and Q which will turn about the axis 0, eachwith a velocity a, but that the field Q will turn, say, clockwise andthat the other field Q will turn counter-clockwise. The action of thefield Q has already been described. It now remains to destroy the actionof the field (P but as the field (D is assumed to move counter-clockwisewith a velocity of a and as the ring A moves clockwise with a velocityof a it will be seen that the field Q moves counter-clockwise withreference to the plane of symmetry and with a velocity of velocity of iwith respect to the axis of symmetry X Y, and therefore with a velocityof 2a, in space; but as the ring B turns within a magnetic screencomposed of the copper bolts 1) and connecting circles G, as we haveshown, it may not, as will be evident to one who has read the priorpatents referred to, be the seat of a flux which is variable in space.The fiux 1 will therefore be practically suppressed and non-existing. Inother words, by means of the magnetic screen I) G we may use a monophasealternating current in the inductor D to create what is in efiect asingle rotary field of force, just as if such single rotary field offorce were produced by the ac:

tion of a polyphase current in the inductor D. By this it must not beunderstood that the magnetic screen or squirrel-cage is dispensed withwhen a polyphase current is employed. While its use is not so vital withpolyphase as with monophase currents, it is yet of great value byinsuring the stability of synchronism. So, too, we may reduce the flux Qby making it jump a large air-space instead of employinga magneticscreen. We much prefer, however,-to employ the magnetic screen,especially as it assists in maintaining synchronism.

In case we use a monophase current in the inductor D it will benecessary to adopt some special means for starting the apparatus fromrest. an asynchronous motor. In this case it would be necessary toprovide the inductor D with an auxiliary circuit, as is a matter ofcommon practice. So, too, one may initially feed the constant-currentfield I with continuous currents taken from a battery of accumulators. X

While we have referred to the two associated motors as bipolar in theabove description, it will be evident that they may be It is evidentthat one may start it as made of any polarity whatever. So, too,although the windings have been described as of the gramme type it isclear that they may be of any type whatever. Again, as before pointedout, the windings of the inductor D may be such as to make it suitablefor hightension currents. This inductor will then be in effect theprimary circuit of a transformer for transforming high-tensionalternating currents into low-tension continuous currents. We repeat,also,'that the apparatus shown and described by us'may also be used 'totransform continuous currents into alternating currents, whethermonophase or polyphase. To this end continuous currents are fed into thebrushes F F and alternating currents are taken from the inductor D.These ideas being exactly equivalent our claims are to be read ascovering either the transformation from alternating to continuous andfrom continuous to alternating currents. Again, it will be seen that themembers of the two groups of conductors on the armature are connected,so that a member of one group is electrically connected with that memberof the other group which is symmetrical to it with respect to a plane ofsymmetry, but on the opposite side thereof. Such winding may be calledan image winding. So, too, it appears that the rotating field in oneportion of the armature rotates in one direction and the rotary fieldcreated thereby in the other portion of the armature rotates in theopposite direction, as an image of the first field, with respect to arotary plane of symmetry.

What we claim is 1. A rotary transformer comprising an armature havingtwo groups of conductors each in sections, a commutator having a numberof plates corresponding to the number of sections, the respectivesections of the conductors being electrically connected to each other onthe opposite sides of a plane of symmetry and to the correspondingplates of the commutator, an alternating-current inductor acting on oneof the two groups of conductors, and means for driving the armature athalf the speed of synchronism, whereby there are generated suchelectromotive forces in the sections of the other group ofarmature-conductors as present a constant diiference of.

potential between sections at the extremities of a diameter fixed inspace, substantially as described.

2. A rotary transformer comprising an armature carrying two groups ofconductors, each divided into a number of sections corresponding to thenumber of commutator-plates, the respective sections of the conductorson the opposite sides of a plane of symmetry being connected to eachother and to the corresponding segments of a commutator, analternating-current inductor for acting on one of the two groups ofarmature-conductors, means for rotating the armature at half the speedof synchronism and stationary brushes bearing on the commutator fortaking a continuous current therefrom, substantially as described.

3. A rotary transformer comprising an armature carrying two groups ofconductors each divided into a number of sections corresponding to thenumber of commutator-plates, the respective sections of the conductorsbeing symmetrically connected to each other and to the correspondingsegments of the commutator, an alternating-current inductoracting on oneof the groups of armature-conductors, a continuous-current inductoracting on the other group of armature-conductors and thus rotating thearmature at half the speed of synchronism and stationary brushes,bearing on the commutator, for takinga continuous current therefrom,substantially as described.

4. A rotary transformer comprising an armature carrying two groups ofconductors each divided into a number of sections corresponding to thenumber of commutator-plates, the respective symmetrical sections of theconductors being connected to each other and to the correspondingsegments of the commutator, an alternating-current inductor acting onone of the groups of armature-conductors, a continuous-current inductoracting on the other group of armattire-conductors and thus rotating thearmature at half the speed of synchronism, a magnetic screen between thecontinuous-current inductor and the armature for insuring the stabilityof synchronism and stationary brushes, bearing on the commutator, fortaking a continuous current therefrom, substantially as described.

5. A rotary transformer comprising an armature carrying two groups ofconductors, each divided into a number of sections correspondingto thenumber of commutator-plates, the respective symmetrical sections of theconductors being connected to each other and to the correspondingsegments of a commu tator, an alternating-current inductor of themonophase type acting on one of the groups of arm ature-conductors,acontinuous-current inductor acting on the other group ofarmature-conductors, a magnetic screen between the continuous-currentinductor and the armature for suppressing any magnetic field which movesin space and thus insuring the rotation of the armature at half thespeed of synchronism, and stationary brushes bearing on the commutatorfor taking a continuous current therefrom,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE HUTIN. MAURICE LEBLANC. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD P. MAOLEAN, ALBERT DELOS.

